Brooklyn Bridge - New York City

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.This bridge was the first steel wire suspension bridge and it was the longest suspension bridge on Earth until 1903. This bridge was built because it was a direct link between Manhattan and Brooklyn.Design of the bridge was begun by John A. Roebling and completed by his son, Washington. Construction took 14 years, and the bridge finally opened in 1883.On that first day, a total of 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed what was then the only land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Emily Warren Roebling was the first to cross the bridge. The bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m). The bridge cost $15.5 million to build and approximately 27 people died during its construction.